Core systems

June 8, 2011 is the last day nominations for Women in Insurance Leadership awards will be accepted.

As the Asian insurance market continues to grow, it faces constraints and opportunities not unlike their North American competitors. A recent report by Boston-based research and consulting firm Celent notes insurers' top three drivers for IT investment in 2011: growing the business, ease of doing business with agents and other distribution channels, and ease of doing business with customers. The report reviews in detail the current business trends facing the market for 2011, and how they are impacting IT investment.

Survey results reveal increase in real-time upload and commercial lines download.

Suite to enable managing general underwriter to deliver agent service, support for multiple carriers.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says, in a turnaround from prior rankings, six of 13 small—rather than large—cars earn safety awards.

Survey targeting several sectors reveals that insurance and mobile telecom rank lowest in respondent satisfaction with communication levels; banks ranked highest.

Treasury begins to lessen ownership stake as it unloads 200 million shares of the insurer’s common stock.

The Hartford, which acquired Federal Trust in early 2009 to get a $3.4 billion investment from the TARP program, says it considers the bank a non-core business.

LIMRA says guaranteed living benefits were adopted 86% of the time in Q1 when they were offered with variable annuities.

Annuity sales through banks topped $4 billion in March to reach their highest level in two years, research says.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners affirms the need for producers in state health insurance exchanges, and the appropriateness of compensating them in several ways for their services.

Survey finds P&C insurers are focusing their underwriters on high value tasks, such as those that improve relationships with producers.

Former American Council of Life Insurers head discusses his new life as chief of the American Bankers Association.

Joint technology product development and launches highlight “partnership” theme at latest insurance conference.

Tablets—especially the iPad—have been an “agent of change” for the London insurance market.

Despite improvements in economy, insurers’ software buys reflect long decision times, slowdown in closed deals.

Accenture survey finds younger consumers still prefer to purchase insurance through agent networks.

Last week, HHS issued proposed regs requiring health insurers seeking to increase their premium rates by 10% or more will have to notify the state and government.

Forrester report outlines impending tools and techniques for processing unstructured data.

Starting in September, insurers will have to publicly post proposed rate increases for the small group and individual markets.